Device for facilitating the removal of bandages.



PATBNTED APR. 17, 1906 C. P. WILLIAMS.

DEVICE FOR FACILITATING THE REMOVAL OF BANDAGES.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 25. 1905.

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GAD P. WILLIAMS, OF SANDERS, KENTUCKY.

DEVBCE FOR FACILITATING THE REMOVAL OF BANDAGES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 17, 1906.

Application filed May 25,1905. Serial No. 262,2i4.

2'0 (tZZ whom, it may cOncePn:

Be it known that 1, CAD P. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sanders, in the county of Carroll, State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Device for Facilitating the Removal of Bandages; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in a device or instrument for facilitating the removal of bandages, and more particularly plaster-of-paris bandages.

The usual way to remove a bandage has been to cut it off with a knife or wire-saw, which is not only slow, tedious, and laborious to the surgeon or operator, but is very painful to the patient; and the object of my invention is to obviate these disadvantages by providing a device which can be readily applied and removed without loss of time to the surgeon and Without pain to the patient.

It further has for its object to provide a device which is simple and inexpensive and durable in construction.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bandage before being cut with my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2, a similar view of the bandage after it has been cut; Fig. 3, a top plan view of the device with the rod Withdrawn; Fig. 4, a top plan view with the rod in place; Fig. 5, an end view of the device, and Fig. 6 a top plan view of a modified form of the device.

In the drawings, in which like numerals of reference denote like parts throughout the several views, 1 represents my improved device for facilitating the removal of bandages, which comprises two rectangular plates 2 and 3, hinged together at 4 by means of a removable rod 5, having a ring 5 at one end, by which it is designed to be grasped. A row of upwardly projecting pins 6, having sharp points, is arranged on each of the plates 2 and 3, preferably near their outer edges. 7 is the bandage, made preferably of plaster-ofparis, but it can be made of any suitable material, and 8 a layer or layers of absorbent cotton designed to be placed between the blandage and the part to, which it is to be app ied.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6 the hinge comprises lugs 9, which are cast or otherwise secured to each of the rectangular plates, the plates, pins, and removable rod being of the same construction as shown in the other figures of the drawings.

In use absorbent cotton is placed around the leg or other part to be treated for the purpose of forming a cushion. The instrument is then placed on the cotton with the pins extending upward. The plaster-of-paris bandage while in a soft pliable condition is applied by wrapping and pressing it tightly around the leg or other part and over the instrument, whichcauses the two rows of pins to be pushed into and engage the bandage. While the bandage is still in a soft pliable condition, it is cut by a pair of shears or by any other suitable means along a line directly above the middle portion of the hinge, the two edges of the bandage being held together after it has been cut by means of the plates, pins, and the rod just as securely as though the bandage had not been out.

When it is desired to remove the bandage, it is only necessary to pull the rod out of the hinge by grasping the ring, which will allow the hinge and edges of bandage to'separate, when the bandage can be readily and quickly removed without the least trouble.

The device is preferably made of brass or nickel, but it may be made of silver or any other suitable material.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the specific details of construction and arrangement as herein described and illustrated, as it is manifest that variations and modifications may be made in the features of construction and arrangement in the adaptation of the device to various conditions of use without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and improvements. I therefore reserve the right to all such variations and modifications as properly fall within the scope of my invention and the terms of the following claims.

What I claim is- 1. A device for facilitating the removal of bandages comprising plates connected together by means of a removable rod and having means for engaging a bandage, substantially as described.

2. A device for facilitating the removal of bandages comprising a pair of plates connected together at their inner edges by means of a hinge having a removable rod and pins projecting from the upper surface of said plates, substantially as described.

3. A device for facilitating the removal of bandages comprising two plates provided with sharp-pointed pins and hinged together at their inner ed es by means of a rod having a ring at one en substantially as described.

4. A device for facilitating the removal of bandages comprising a pair of plates provided with a hinge connecting their inner edges which project upwardly from the upper surface of said plates, the lower surface being in the same plane, pins projecting downwardly from said plates, and a rod connecting the parts of said hinge by the removal of which said hinge is designed to be separated, substantially as described.

5. A bandage provided with a cushion, a 15 device between the bandage and the cushion designed to remove said bandage, said device comprlsmg plates hinged together and having in presence of two witnesses.

CAD P. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

C. W. POWELL, W. A. SHIRLEY. 

